US Air Force rescue units move closer to Africa and Eastern Europe | Air Force Times

On April 20, Air Force pararescue airmen conducted their final jump over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, before their units — the 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons — permanently moved to Aviano Air Base, Italy.

That move went ahead on May 15, as the rescue units’ HH-60G Pave Hawks conducted a final flight during a farewell ceremony at the Lakenheath flightline.

Air Force officials said they are relocating the two rescue squadrons to Aviano to provide strategic combat search and rescue capabilities to the European and African theaters of operation, as well as to supplement training opportunities for partners and allies in the region.

Both rescue squadrons are comprised of specialized airmen, “dedicated to conducting personnel recovery across the full-range of military contingencies during all phases of joint, coalition and combined operations around the globe,” according to an RAF Lakenheath press release.